According to reports, the blast took place in a building situated on Mall road adjacent to the Lahore High Court building. It was so powerful that several window panes of the court building were blown away.

Three buildings were completely destroyed in the blast and 30 dead bodies were reportedly found till reports last filtered in.

Gunshots were also heard in the area after the blast.

The attack was apparently aimed at the Lahore High Court, where Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was due to be produced today.

Sources said many people are still trapped in the rubble of the buildings, that have collapsed completely in the blast.

Casualties are expected to rise as rescue and search operations are still on.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and shifted injured and bodies to hospitals.

Meanwhile, security forces claimed to have arrested a person near the incident site allegedly involved in the blast . (ANI)